As part of this year’s Financial Times 125 anniversary celebrations, the FT is inviting readers and corporate teams to take part in the Financial Times London Cycle Sportive on 30th June. The event is run by Human Race, the UK’s largest and most diverse mass-participation sports company, in partnership with community sports charity Access Sport.
The ride takes place in the capital and will see several thousand cyclists tackle a new 50km, 100km or 160km cycle route taking in many important landmarks from London’s Olympic history including Box Hill, which was made famous by the likes of Mark Cavendish and Lizzie Armitstead in the 2012 Olympic road cycling events. Participants will finish the ride with a lap of Herne Hill Velodrome, the venue for the track cycling events at the 1948 London Olympics.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “It’s fantastic news that London is hosting another superb cycling event. With The Financial Times London Cycle Sportive featuring the legendary Box Hill, this race could be the perfect training for our Ride London festival of cycling in August. I hope people from far and wide take up this two wheeled challenge and help to raise money for Access Sport.”
As well as taking part on the day, corporate teams will be invited to take part in an exclusive afternoon at the velodrome with Team Sky cyclist and event ambassador Ben Swift on 18th June. On the day of the sportive corporate teams will be invited to a pre-ride talk from Olympic champion track cyclist and Access Sport ambassador Rebecca Romero. Corporate riders will also start together in private waves and have access to an exclusive FT hospitality tent.
FT Deputy CEO Ben Hughes said: “We’re delighted to partner with Human Race to bring this unique sporting opportunity to our readers, corporate partners and FT staff. It’s one of several initiatives we’re holding to mark the FT’s 125 years as one of the world’s leading business news organisations.”
Nick Rusling, CEO of Human Race said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Financial Times on board as a title sponsor of the London Cycle Sportive. With thousands of Londoners taking part the sportive is sure to be one of the stand-out cycle events of summer in the Capital.”
All cyclists are being encouraged to raise vital funds for official charity partner Access Sport whose mission is to give more children, particularly in disadvantaged areas, access to a wide range of local quality sport.
Corporate teams interested in taking part should contact teams@humanrace.co.uk and individuals can enter via the FT London Cycle Sportive website.
For more information visit the FT London Cycle Sportive website and to read about the FT’s 125 anniversary visit ft.com/125
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For more information contact:
Human Race:
Gillian McVeigh
PR and Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 208 391 3913
gillian.mcveigh@humanrace.co.uk
FT:
Emily Gibbs
Corporate Communications Manager, Financial Times
T: +44 (0) 207 873 3184
E: emily.gibbs@ft.com
Access Sport:
Lucy Brooks
Fundraising Projects Manager
T: +44 (0) 207 993 9883
Lucy.brooks@accesssport.org.uk
About the Financial Times
The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of more than 600,000 (Deloitte assured, Q4 2012). FT.com has over 328,000 paying digital subscribers and the newspaper has a global print circulation of 273, 047 (ABCs, March 2013). Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving 34% of FT.com traffic and 15% of digital subscriptions. FT education products now serve 25 of the world’s top 50 business schools.
About Human Race
Human Race is the UK’s largest and most diverse mass participation events company; owning and delivering over 50 events in triathlon, cycling, running, duathlon and open water swimming for over 70,000 participants of all abilities and ages each year. The highly prestigious portfolio of events includes 11 triathlons, nine cycling events, 10 running events, 7 open water swims, 6 kid’s events. These events bring together an active community of people taking part in sporting events for reasons ranging from fitness, competition, charity, health, fun or to simply finish. The participants vary from nervous first timers from 4 to 80 through to World Champions. Collectively, the events raise millions of pounds for hundreds of charities.
About Access Sport
Founded in 2004 Access Sport is an award winning charity whose mission is to give more children, particularly in disadvantaged areas access to local quality sport. The charity works closely with volunteer-led community sports clubs with an aim to achieve thriving clubs which are also sustainable. Access Sport Ambassadors include cyclists Bradley Wiggins, Jody Cundy, and Rebecca Romero. Other Ambassadors include Greg Searle, Gail Emms, David James, Rachel Yankey, John Barnes, Josh Lewsey.